Swimmers Take On Personal Challenges In West Wight Sports And Community Centre Solent Swim

Fears will be conquered and personal challenges achieved when over 50 swimmers take part in the fourteenth West Wight Sports and Community Centre Solent Swim on Saturday (September 14.)

The annual Solent Swim is organised by West Wight Sports & Community Centre as their main fundraising event.

More than 50 swimmers will depart from Hurst Castle at approximately 7:45am, crossing the Solent to arrive in Colwell Bay from 08:10am.

Supported by a fleet of volunteer kayakers and support boats, as well as an army of beach spotters, the Team aims to raise over £20,000 between them.

Aged between 18 and 80, many of the swimmers have committed to months of training to take part in the Solent crossing for the first time, with other competitive open water swimmers also joining the team.

Some swimmers are marking the year of a significant birthday by taking on the challenge, while others signed up for the swim to motivate them to adopt an active lifestyle.

Spectators and supporters are encouraged to gather on Colwell Beach to congratulate the Swimmers on their achievement as they arrive.

Thanks to Captains Cabin café who are supporting the event and will be open to visitors on the day. The iconic Solent Swim Team t-shirts, awarded to all swimmers and kayakers, featuring the names of all the Swimmers, are locally produced by IDML in Newport, who this year are also hosting a Solent Swim merchandise store.

More than just a swimming pool, West Wight Sports and Community Centre is a community hub, providing a range of facilities and services focusing on health, fitness, personal growth and development and supporting both physical and mental health and well-being.

As a charity, the Centre relies on ad hoc grants and fundraising events such as the Solent Swim to support their work and ensure the centre can continue to operate.